natural heritage policy review - region of peel

Natural Heritage Policy Review

Purpose• Policy conformity with PPS and Greenbelt

Plan

• Identify policy and mapping gaps for natural heritage features listed in PPS

• Foundation for a more comprehensive review of natural heritage systems planning in Peel (Phase 2 – Development of Greenlands Strategy)

PROPR

Significant Woodlands

Wildlife Habitat Study

PROPR

Natural Heritage

Discussion Paper

Draft

Regional Official Plan Amendment


PROCESS and TIMELINE

Adoption of Regional

Official Plan Amendment

(June 2009)

Consultation

•MSWG & TAT Meetings

•Caledon Council Workshops

•Stakeholder Workshops

Consultation

• MSWG & TAT Meetings

•Environment Workshop

•Staff Report to Regional Council

•Finalize SW & SWH Study Report

Consultation

•MSWG & TAT Meetings

•Open Houses

•Public Meetings

•Stakeholder Meetings

January 2008

Spring/ Summer

2008

Fall 2008 Spring/ Summer

2009

Winter 2009

Core Management Team (CMT)Region of PeelTown of Caledon

Ecological/Planning ConsultantsSorensen Gravely LowesNorth-South Environmental IncDougan & Associates

Municipal Staff Working Group (MSWG)City of BramptonCity of MississaugaTown of CaledonRegion of Peel

Technical Advisory Team (TAT)MNRNECMMAHConservation Authorities (CVC, TRCA)

STUDY TEAM


Significant Woodlands and Significant Wildlife Habitat Study

Peel-Caledon Significant Woodlands and

Significant Wildlife Habitat Study

Significant Woodlands & Significant Wildlife Habitat Study

STUDY RATIONALE

1. Provincial Policy Statements (1997, 2005) identify Significant Woodlands (SW) and Significant Wildlife Habitat (SWH) as features for which municipalities are required to identify and develop policies

2. Current Regional Official Plan and Town of Caledon Official Plan:• Significant Woodlands policies require review and updating• No specific policies for Significant Wildlife Habitat

3. To provide a technical basis to support and guide policy development in both the Region and Town of Caledon


STUDY DELIVERABLES

• Analysis of woodland cover and wildlife habitat on a Region and Town-wide basis

• Criteria and thresholds for mapping significant woodlands and significant wildlife habitat

• Guidance for policy development at Regional and Town levels

• Technical Study Report (October 2008)


CONSULTATION

1. Caledon Council Workshops• Apr. 9th and May 13th

2. Stakeholder Workshops• Apr. 7th and June 13th

3. Presentations to Community Groups• PFA, Caledon Agricultural Advisory Committee

(CAAC), Etobicoke-Mimico River Coalition and Humber River Alliance

4. Open Houses• June 24th (Caledon), June 25th (Brampton) &

June 26th (Mississauga)

5. Report to Town and Regional Council• October 16th – Regional IMPSC• Caledon – TBD Fall/Winter 2008

Significant Woodlands Component

Long List of Preliminary Criteria• Started with 18 preliminary criteria derived from consultations

& background review

• Consideration of Evaluation Questions• Is criterion defensible?• Can criterion be quantified?• Are data available to apply criterion?• Are there known thresholds?• Are field data required to apply criterion?

• Input from MSWG, TAT, Stakeholders & Caledon Council

• 6 criteria are recommended for the identification of SWResults of Evaluation

Evaluation of Preliminary Criteria

7.42637.5%1,940 (6.7%)Mississauga

7.72517.6%1,972 (7.3%)Brampton

35.262484.9%21,954 (31.5%)

Caledon

23.01,127100%25,867 (20.6%)

Peel

Mean Patch Sizeha

No. of Forest

Patches

Contribution to Regional

Forest Cover (%)

Forest Cover in

each Municipality

ha (%)

Municipality

Forest Cover in Peel Region



Draft Criteria Recommended forIdentifying Significant Woodlands

1. Size• Urban/Rural System (16 ha & 4

ha)• Physiography/Historical Land

Use (16 ha & 4 ha)2. Age/Old Growth3. Linkage among Features4. Proximity to other Features5. Surface Water Quality &

Quantity6. Significant Species and Habitats

STUDY APPROACH

1. Long list of preliminary criteria selected from existing Provincial policy documents

2. Draft criteria recommended based on:• consultations with OMNR • consideration for local conditions• consideration for input from consultations

3. Draft thresholds developed based on:• Provincial and ORM technical guidelines• review / analysis of available data• input from agency and other experts

Significant Wildlife Habitat Component

KEY CHALLENGES

1. Developing thresholds for criteria that are:• appropriate for Caledon and / or Peel in the absence

of comprehensive data, and• defensible in the absence of comprehensive data.

2. Developing thresholds or approach to criteria implementation that are practical (i.e., can be applied with existing data or confirmed with site-specific data).

3. Ensuring consistency with Provincial direction (through ongoing consultations with OMNR).


41 CRITERIA CONSIDERED

A. Seasonal Concentration Areas (15)B. Rare Vegetation Communities or Specialized Habitats

for Wildlife (17)C. Habitats for Species of Conservation Concern (8)D. Animal Movement Corridors (1)


DRAFT RESULTS

Of 41 preliminary criteria (for Peel):• 24 recommended with thresholds• 11 recommended without thresholds• 4 not recommended - covered by other criteria• 2 not recommended - inapplicable

NOTE: Mapping only possible for 2 criteria:• Migratory landbird stopover areas (not applicable to Caledon)• Highly diverse areas (habitats)


Natural Heritage Policy Review Discussion Paper


Discussion Paper• Part A – Background review of

legislation, trends, and policy

• Part B – Provincial conformity mapping and policy gaps for PROPR including Greenbelt Plan conformity for natural heritage

• Part C – Discussion on potential future directions for a Greenlands Strategy and natural heritage systems planning

• Provincial conformity requirements identified for:– Regional Core Wetlands, ANSIs, ESAs and

Escarpment Natural Areas - Mapping– Significant Valleylands – Mapping and Policy– Significant Woodlands – Study, Criteria, Mapping and

Policy– Significant Wildlife Habitat – Study, Criteria, Mapping

and Policy– Greenbelt Plan Conformity – Policy and Mapping

• Greenlands management and stewardship policies:– Greenlands Securement– Ecological Goods and Services– Invasive Species Management– Wildlife Management



Significant Valleylands• Mapping methodology considers

urban and rural context• Consistent with ROPA 13• Policy revisions, criteria and

mapping to identify Core valleylands:– Main branches, major tributaries,

other tributaries and urban ravines– Identifies defined valley system

meeting criteria for Core valleylands


Significant Woodlands• Definition• Criteria and Thresholds

– Size, Age, Linkage, Proximity, Surface Water, Significant Species

– Cultural Woodlands/Savannahs

Cultural WoodlandsCultural SavannahsAll other woodlands >0.5 ha

Size•Rural System - 4 to 16 ha•Urban System – 2 to 4 haAgeLinkageProximitySurface WaterSignificant Species

Size•Rural System > 16 ha•Urban System > 4 haAgeSignificant Species

PNACNACCore


Significant Wildlife Habitat• Definition• Criteria and Thresholds

– Category A – Seasonal Concentration Areas– Category B – Rare Vegetation Communities &

Specialized Habitat– Category C – Habitat for Species of Conservation

Concern– Category D – Animal Movement Corridors

• Recommended Option: – List SWH as NACs– Include Criteria/Thresholds in Appendix– Criteria/Thresholds applied or refined as study

requirements– Mapping for Some Criteria:

• Highly Diverse Areas and Landbird Migratory Stopover Areas


Greenbelt Plan Conformity• Recommended Option:

– Incorporate policies into Greenlands System framework– Identify/map Natural Heritage System as overlay– Identify KNHFs in NHS as Core Areas– Identify KHFs in Protected Countryside as Core Areas– Mapping of KNHFs & KHFs in Regional Plan to be

discussed with Province– Regional policies for identification of KNHFs & KHFs

will not be more restrictive than Greenbelt Plan (Core Areas criteria will not be layered on top of Greenbelt Plan criteria)

• Draft Greenbelt Plan Technical Papers


Greenlands Management and Stewardship

• Greenlands Securement• Ecological Goods and Services• Invasive Species Management• Wildlife Management


Summary of Core Area Mapping Changes as a % of the Region

15.4% (1997)

0.7% (Added in 2005)

3.8% (New Proposed in 2008)

• Majority (+98%) of proposed Core Areas are already contained within existing environmental policy areas


Phase 2 - Greenlands Strategy

• Preliminary Scope of Work• Regional Council Endorsement• Suggested Timing• Recommended Policy


NEXT STEPS …

• Public Consultation on the Natural Heritage Policy Review Discussion Paper and SW & SWH Study Report

• PROPR Environment Workshop - November 24/08

• Written comments from public due December12/08

• Finalize SW & SWH Study Report - January 2009

• Receive input on policy options through the PROPR Natural Heritage Policy Review

THANK-YOU


Greenbelt Plan Natural Heritage

Policies


November 24, 2008


Greenbelt Conformity for Natural Heritage

• Identify Natural Heritage System (NHS) overlay designation on map

• Policies for permitted uses in NHS• Policies for KNHFs and KHFs in the

NHS and Protected Countryside• Mapping of KNHFs and KHFs


• New development and site alteration shall demonstrate: – No negative effects on KNHFs and KHFs– Connectivity between KNHFs and KHFs– Removal of other features to be avoided– Disturbed area of site does not exceed 25%– Impervious surface does not exceed 10% of

total developable area– Golf course disturbed area not to exceed

40% of site– 30% of total developable area to remain in

self-sustaining vegetation– Buildings and structures do not occupy

more than 25% of total developable area

Natural Heritage System Policies


Key Natural Heritage Features (KNHFs) and Key Hydrologic

Features (KHFs) Policies

• “Development and site alteration” not permitted within KNHFs in NHS

• “Development and site alteration” not permitted within KHFs in NHS and Protected Countryside

• “Development and site alteration” not permitted within any “associated vegetation protection zone”


Key Natural Heritage Features

• KNHFs– Significant habitat of endangered and

threatened species– Fish habitat– Wetlands– Life science ANSIs– Significant valleylands– Significant woodlands– Significant wildlife habitat– Sand barrens, savannahs and tallgrass

prairies; and– Alvars


• KHFs– Permanent and intermittent streams– Lakes and their littoral zones– Seepage areas and springs; and– Wetlands

Key Hydrological Features


• 30 metre wide minimum vegetation protection zone identified for:– Wetlands– Seepage areas and springs– Fish habitat– Permanent and intermittent streams– Lakes – Significant woodlands

• Natural heritage evaluations and hydrological evaluations required for new development or site alteration within 120 metres of KNHFs and KHFs

KNHF and KHF Policies


Greenbelt Conformity Options• Option 1

– Incorporate Natural System policies as separate stand alone section

– Map NHS as overlay– Map KNHFs & KHFs on schedule or direct area

municipalities to map• Option 2

– Incorporate Natural System policies within ROP’sGreenlands System policies

– Map NHS as overlay– Categorize KNHFs & KHFs as Core Areas or NACs– Map KNHFs & KHFs on schedule or direct area

municipalities to map• Option 3

– Incorporate Natural System policies within ROP’sGreenlands System policies

– Map NHS as overlay– Identify KNHFs within NHS as Core Areas– Identify KHFs within Protected Countryside as Core Areas– Map all KNHFs and KHFs identified as Core Areas on Schedule A


Permitted Use Options• Option 1

– Incorporate permitted use policies for non-agricultural uses• Limits on site disturbance, building coverage and

impervious surface• Connectivity between features• Requirements for 30% of site to be returned to self-

sustaining vegetation• Option 2

– Subject to justification and demonstrating how impacts are minimized

– Incorporate exemption for expansion of existing agricultural buildings & structures, dwellings and accessory uses within KNHFs

– Permit new dwellings on existing lots of record within KNHFs

• Option 3– Clarify that “minor development” not permitted in KNHFs or

KHFs• Option 4

– Permit mineral aggregate development in some of the Core Areas subject to requirements of Section 4.3.2 of Greenbelt Plan


Options for Criteria to Identify Natural Features• Option 1

– Clarify that Greenlands System criteria for features also apply in addition to the Greenbelt Plan criteria

• Option 2– Where Province has approved detailed criteria

to identify Greenbelt features, clarify that the Greenbelt criteria will apply (including on the ORM)

– ROP’s Greenlands System criteria not added to Greenbelt criteria

• Option 3– Harmonize ROP’s Greenlands System criteria

with provincial plan criteria


Greenbelt Conformity• Recommended Option:

– Incorporate policies into Greenlands System framework

– Identify/map Natural Heritage System as overlay– Identify KNHFs in NHS as Core Areas– Identify KHFs in Protected Countryside as Core

Areas– Mapping of KNHFs & KHFs in Regional Plan to be

discussed with Province– Where Greenbelt Plan policies are provided for

protection and identification of features ROP Greenlands System policies will not apply

• Draft Greenbelt Plan Technical Papers

GREENBELT PLAN NHS - SOUTH AREA

4 ha

REGION OF PEEL RURAL SYSTEM

16 ha

REGION OF PEEL RURAL SYSTEM

16 ha

GREENBELT PLAN NHS NORTH

AREA - 10 ha

REGION OF PEEL URBAN SYSTEM

4 ha

ORMCP

NATURAL CORE AND NATURAL LINKAGE AREAS -

0.5 ha

COUNTRYSIDE AND SETTLEMENT AREAS - 4 ha


Discussion, Questions and Comments…


Mapping Updates


November 24, 2008


Mapping updates for…

• Core Wetlands• Core Life Science Areas of

Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSIs)

• Environmentally Sensitive or Significant Areas (ESAs)

• Escarpment Natural Areas• Identified as Core Areas of the

Greenlands System:– “New development and site

alteration not permitted in Core Areas”


Policy Context For Mapping Updates

• In accordance with existing ROP Policy

• Reflect improvements & refinements to mapping data

• Minor policy revisions to reflect PPS policy and new terminology


Core Wetlands• New or revised wetland evaluations

approved by MNR• Examples:

– Hall Lake-Kenniflick Wetland Complex (New – Town of Caledon)

– Levi Creek Wetland Complex (revised –City of Brampton)

• Mapping updates reflect improvements & refinements to mapping data

• Minor policy revisions to reflect PPS policy and new terminology


Recommended Policy Options

• Update Mapping for Core Wetlands

• Update Terminology– NAC Wetlands “Evaluated Non-

provincially significant”– PNAC Wetlands “Unevaluated”

• List Significant Coastal Wetlands as Core Areas


Core ANSIs• ANSIs are evaluated based on

Provincial criteria and identified as wither provincially or regionally significant by MNR

• Two types: life science or earth science• Provincially significant life science

ANSIs identifed as Core Areas in ROP• Revised ANSI mapping obtained from

MNR• Minor policy revisions to reflect PPS

policy for ANSIs in accordance with ROP Greenlands System framework


Recommended Policy Options

• Update Mapping for Core ANSIs• List regionally significant life

science ANSIs as NACs• List regionally significant earth

science ANSIs as PNACs


Core ESAs• ESAs based on conservation authority

evaluations completed in 1980s & 1990s

• Include rare or unique plant and animal populations or communities, habitats or where ecosystem functions are concentrated

• ESAs identified as Core Areas in the ROP

Recommended Policy Options• Update Mapping for Core ESAs


Core Escarpment Natural Areas• Designated for protection in the

Niagara Escarpment Plan and identified as Core Areas in ROP

• Contain the most significant and scenic areas of the Escarpment

Recommended Policy Options• Update Mapping for Escarpment

Natural Areas


Core Valleylands• ROPA 13 (ROPSU) updated mapping

in Brampton and Mississauga• PROPR mapping to extend/refine Core

valleylands into Caledon• Existing mapping circa mid-1990s uses

schematic 150 m buffer strips• Mapping updates to be in accordance

with ROP policies and PPS• Developed “Proposed Methodology to

Update Mapping of Core Valley and Stream Corridors”– Jointly developed with Area Municipal Staff– Provides basis/criteria for identification


Policy 2.1.4

Development and site alteration shall not be permitted in:

c) significant valleylands south and east of the Canadian Shield.

Valleylands : means a natural area that occurs in a valley or other landform depression that has water flowing through or standing for some period of the year.

Significant means:

d) in regard to other features and areas in policy 2.1, ecologiallyimportant in terms of features, functions, representation or amount, and contributing to the quality and diversity of an identifiable geographic area or natural heritage system.

Criteria for determining significance for the resources identified in sections (c) – (g) are recommended by the Province, but municipal approaches that achieve or exceed the same objective may also be used.

Provincial Policy Statement


ROP PolicyPolicy 2.3.2.2 (Core Valley and Stream Corridors)

Define the Core Areas of the Greenlands System in Peel as:

g) Only those valley and stream corridors shown on Schedule A associated with the main branches of the Credit River, the EtobicokeCreek, the Mimico Creek, the West Humber River, and the Humber River and with the other identified watercourses draining directly to Lake Ontario; except for those portions of the Rural Service Centresand the rural settlements in the Rural System as designated in an area municipal official plan. These valley and stream corridors are continuous linkages connecting to other elements of the GreenlandsSystem Core Areas. The width of all of these valley and stream corridors shall be determined in accordance with the definition in the Glossary of this Plan. Their length shall be determined in accordance with Schedule A.


ROP PolicyGlossary Definition

Valley and Stream Corridors: valley and stream corridors are the natural resources associated with the river systems characterized by their landform, features and functions, and include associated ravines. Valley corridors and ravines are distinguished from stream corridors by the presence of a distinct landform. The limit of valley and stream corridors shall be determined, jointly with the area municipalties, on a site specific basis by the conservation authorities.


Core Valleylands• Identified for their Regional significance

based on:– providing important ecological functions that

are regional in scale;– containing habitat (aquatic) for endangered

or threatened species; and– providing linkages to other Core Areas of

the Greenlands System across municipal boundaries


• Consistent with ROPA 13• Policy revisions, criteria and

mapping to identify Core valleylands:– Main branches, major tributaries,

other tributaries and urban ravines

– Identifies defined valley system meeting criteria for Core valleylands (Crest of Slope)

Core Valleylands


Crest of Slope


“Major Tributaries”Defined


Mapping Criteria for Urban Ravines


Mapping Criteria for Ill -defined Sections


• Main Branches, Major Tributaries and watercourses draining directly to Lake Ontario:

– mapped from outlet to furthest upstream extent of the defined valley landform

– defined valley mapped using crest of slope

Mapping Criteria


• Other Tributaries:– mapped from outlet to furthest

upstream extent of the defined valley landform

– must meet the following criteria:• contains habitat of aquatic

endangered or threatened species; or

• watercourse crosses municipal boundary and provides linkage to other Core Area

Mapping Criteria


• Core valleylands exclude:– rural ravines;– ill-defined headwater drainage features

(swales);– created headwater valley/stream

corridors (ditches, channelized drainage);

– discontinuous/highly disturbed defined valley features; and

– other non-valley landforms

Mapping Criteria


Discussion, Questions and Comments…

November 24, 2008


Regional Official PlanGreenlands System

Policies

Policy 2.3.2.1It is the policy of Regional Council to define the GreenlandsSystem in Peel as being made up of:

• Core Areas

- protected in ROP and area municipal official plans

- “development and site alteration” is not permitted

- are considered “Regionally significant”

•Natural Areas and Corridors (NACs)

- ROP provides guidance to area municipalities

- NACs are interpreted, identified and protected through area municipal official plans

•Potential Natural Areas and Corridors (PNACs)

- require studies to determine significance

- PNACs are interpreted, identified and protected through area municipal official plans

- could be identified as Core Areas or NACs or not significant

• unevaluated wetlands• all other woodlands• provincial earth science ANSIs• sensitive groundwater recharge areas• valley and stream corridors < 125 ha drainage area• historic shorelines• open space portions of the Parkway Belt West Plan• potential ESAs

• Class 4 to 7 wetlands• woodlands 3 ha to 30 ha• Lake Ontario shoreline and littoral zone• non-Core valley and stream corridors > 125 ha drainage area• Escarpment Protection Areas• headwater source and discharge areas• other natural features interpreted by the area municipalities

• provincially significant wetlands (Class 1 to 3)• woodlands > 30 ha• ESAs• provincial life science ANSIs• habitat of vulnerable, threatened and endangered species• Escarpment Natural Areas• valley and stream corridors shown on Schedule A

PNACsNACsCore Areas


Categories and Elements of the Greenlands System

Provincial, Regional, Local Significance Explained…

Significant under PPS

Regionally Significant Locally Significant

Regional Core Areas Regional NACs and PNACs

Caledon Schedule A EPA

Brampton Schedule D Natural Heritage Features and Areas

Mississauga Schedule 3 Natural Areas System

Significant Woodlands and Significant Wildlife Habitat


November 24, 2008


Significant Woodlands• Definition• Criteria and Thresholds

– Size – Age – Linkage – Proximity – Surface Water – Significant Species

• Cultural Woodlands/Savannahs


Existing woodlands definition:

“Woodlands” are defined as complex ecosystems comprising of communities of trees, shrubs, ground vegetation and immediate biotic and abiotic conditions on which they depend.


Proposed woodlands definition:Adds the following to the existing definition:

“Woodlands are further defined as any area greater than 0.5 ha that has:

• tree crown cover > 60%

•tree crown cover > 25% together with stem estimates of at least:

- 1,000 trees of any size per ha

- 750 trees > 5cm in dia. per ha

- 250 trees > 20 cm in dia. per ha

• woodlands include cultural woodlands and cultural savannah

Woodland tree crown cover at approximately 25%

Woodland tree crown cover at > 60%


Policy Options for Woodlands


Policy Options for Patch Size

• Option 1 – Urban/Rural System

• Option 1 – Physiography/Historical Land Use

• Option 3 – No change to existing policies


Policy Options for Age, Proximity, Linkage and Significant Species• Option 1- Divide based on size

� Core Woodlands -> 0.5 ha

� PNAC Woodlands - all other woodlands

• Option 2 – Divide based on size� Core Woodlands -> 4 ha� NAC Woodlands - 0.5 to 4 ha

• Option 3 – Divide based on policy and size� Core Woodlands

- Age - > 4 ha- Significant Species - > 4 ha

natural heritage policy review - region of peel

Documents